20th January 2021 23:09:03 Hours
Brigadier K A W N H Bandaranayake USP assumes office as the 15th Centre Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 19 January 2021 during a brief ceremony at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Centre, Boyagane.
Brigadier Nalin Bandaranayake was born on 19 August 1971 and studied at St. Thomas College, Matale. He was a bright student in the college who amply illustrated his talents and skills in various streams.
He was enlisted to Sri Lanka Army Regular Force on 07 September 1990 and followed the basic military training as a Cadet Officer of Pakistan Military Academy Intake (PMA) 1. After a successful training, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13 March 1992 and posted to 7 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. He had hold various appointments at 7 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, such as Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer, Adjutant, and Company Commander. With amalgamation of 5 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and 7 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, he was posted to 5 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 07 July 2000. Subsequently, he hold the appointment of 2nd In Command of 7 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment at Eluthumadduwal once reopen the battalion. While serving as the Regimental Adjutant at Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Centre, he had happened to raise a new Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment battalion at the final stage of the Humanitarian Operation which is 19 Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment deployed in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu areas being the youngest Battalion Commander of the Army.
He had hold numerous appointments in Regimental Centre VIR such as Regimental Adjutant, Staff Officer 1 (Logistic), Staff Officer 1 (Admin) as well as Deputy Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. During his 31 years of military tenure and he has hold following appointments in various formations, namely;
Company Commander - United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Haiti
Staff Officer 1 (Admin) – Forward Maintenance Area (North Central)
Commanding Officer (Training Wing) - Combat Training School, Ampara
Deputy Centre Commandant - Regimental Centre SLNG, Wehera
Commander - 611 Brigade, Vavuniya
Commander - 111 Brigade, Gampola
He has followed various local and foreign courses such as,
Unit Account Course - RHQ SLAGSC, Panagoda
Young Officers' Course - Pakistan
Parachute Course - India
Junior Command Course - India
He was awarded Uththama Seva Padakkama for his valuable service and devotion to duty marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct and 15 years of continuous and unblemished record of moral and military conduct. This Senior Officer is married to Mrs Damayanthi Kumari Wijesekara and blessed with one son.
